Carrier for curtains or drapes



Jan. 4, 1955 G. F. McMURRAY 2,

CARRIER FOR CURTAINS OR DRAPES Filed May 5, 1952 gill 4 INVENTOR. Geo/ye fih urray A horney United States Patent CARRIER FOR CURTAINS 0R DRAPES George F. MeMurray, Glendale, Calif.

Application May 5, 1952, Serial No. 286,180

12 Claims. (Cl. 1687.4)

This invention relates to a carrier for curtains or drapes and it is a general object of the invention to provide a simple, practical, improved construction including a track supported slide with a hanger serviceable when the track faces downwardly or horizontally.

It is common to mount slides having hangers carrying curtains or drapes by means of tracks and it is necessary, in some cases, to employ tracks that face downwardly while in other cases the tracks are mounted to face horizontally. As a result of this situation it is common to provide slides of two distinctly different types. One type is adapted to be employed in connection with tracks facing downwardly and the other type is adapted to be employed in connection with tracks facing horizontally.

It is a general object of this invention to provide a construction, and particularly a slide construction, wherein the slide has a body applicable to a track, whether the track be arranged to face downwardly or horizontally, and wherein there is a hanger coupled to the body of the slide and adapted to be positioned to depend whether the body is engaged with a track facing downwardly or with a track facing horizontally.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction of the general character referred to wherein the slide is characterized by a body and a hanger coupled to the body by a simple pin, the parts being related so that the hanger will depend from the body whether the body is supported by a downwardly facing track or a horizontally facing track.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a construction of the general character referred to characterized by a body adapted to be operated along a track, and a hanger detachably coupled to the body and adapted when connected to the body to project therefrom in either one of two directions which are at right angles to each other.

The present invention is adapted to be incorporated in a structure wherein there is a track and in practice the track may be of the simple or conventional form where it is substantially U-shaped in cross-sectional configuration to have two spaced opposed rail portions. In practice, a multiplicity of slides is carried by a single track, and in accordance with the invention each slide is characterized by a body, a hanger, and a coupling pin. The invention provides a slide with a front, a back, and with sides having rail-receiving grooves therein. The hanger is an elongate element having a substantially straight shank adapted to be normally in a vertical position and provided at its lower end portion with an opening or other feature to facilitate connection of a curtain or drape thereto, as by means of a pin or other fastener. The invention provides a tab portion at the other end of the shank, that is, at the upper end portion of the shank, and in its preferred form the tab portion has end parts which are substantially straight and are at right angles to each other, while a curved or arcuate neck connects the end parts. An elongate opening or slot is provided in the tab and extends from one end part to the other and through the neck. The slot is preferably of uniform width and slidably passes the coupling pin. The coupling pin is carried by the body, being preferably held in an opening in the body to have limited movement bodily relative to the body. The coupling pin projects from the front of the body through the slot in the tab of the hanger and a head is provided on the forwardly projecting end of the pin to retain the tab adjacent the front of the body. In accordance with the invention there is sufiicient looseness in the construction,

2,698,455 Patented Jan. 4, 1955 and particularly, suflicient clearance between the head on the projecting end of the pin and the front of the body, to allow the hanger to be turned or shifted bodily relative to the front of the body or normal to the plane in which the rail receiving grooves occur and a position where it is in a plane parallel with the front of the body or with the plane in which the rail-receiving grooves occur.

It is preferred that a large opening be provided adjoining the end of the groove where the tab adjoins the shank so that the head of the coupling pin can be passed, thus enabling the hanger to be readily applied to or removed from the body as circumstances may require.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and applications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation illustrating a typical embodiment of the invention, showing the track of the structure applied to a vertical support and the hanger of a slide depending, while the front of the body of the slide faces horizontally. Fig. 2 is a detailed sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, being a view taken as indicated by line 22 on Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing an arrangement wherein the track is applied to a horizontal support to face downwardly therefrom while the hanger of the slide is disposed to depend from the downwardly facing front of the body of the slide. Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview of a hanger as provided by the invention, showing it separate from the other parts and showing a typical hanger formation that can be employed in carrying out the invention. Fig. 5 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 4 showing a slightly different form of tab provided on the shank of the hanger. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Figs. 4 and 5, showing a somewhat different form of tab and illustrating a hanger to be employed in a construction that provides for detachment of the hanger from the body of the slide. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a slide showing a body of slightly different formation and showing the body of the slide positioned as it would be carried by a horizontally faced track, and indicating in dotted lines other positions of the hanger relative to the body. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the manner in which the hanger can be operated or turned relative to the body of the slide between the two different positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and Fig. 9 is a perspective view illustrating another form of construction wherein the body of the slide is formed of sheet material such as sheet metal, and wherein the hanger is of the tyne illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

The structure to which the present invention is applied involves or includes, generally, a track A and slides B carried by and operable along the track. The track A is adapted to be arranged in various positions, that is, it can be applied to supports S presenting track-carrying faces 10 disposed in various ways. Ordinarily a support S to carry a track A will have a track supporting face 10 vertically disposed as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, or horizontally disposed as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 8.

So far as the present invention is concerned the track A may be varied widely in form and construction and for purpose of illustration I have disclosed a simple, typical track such as is commonly used to carry slides which, in turn, support curtains, drapes, or other hangings. The particular track as shown in the drawings includes a flat base 12 applicable to the face 10 of a support S and the track is U-shaped in cross-sectional configuration and has spaced opposed rail portions 13. This type of track is ordinarily formed of sheet metal and is secured to the support S by means of screw fasteners 14, or the like.

A slide B as provided by the present invention includes, generally, a body 15, a hanger 16, and a coupling 17 connecting the hanger and body. In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 8, the body 15 is a simple unitary member or block of suitable material and it is characterized by a back face 20, a front face 21, and sides 22. The sides 22 are provided with grooves 23 slidably receiving the rails 13 of track A. In the case illustrated the grooves 23 are parallel and occur in a plane spaced from and parallel with the plane of the front face 21 of the body. The particular body under consideration is of such form and construction as to be readily cast or otherwise formed as a unit of a suitable material such as is ordinarily referred to as plastic, it being understood, of course, that the body is of permanent form and substantially rigid.

The hanger as provided by the present invention includes an elongate shank 30 with a tab 31 at one end, namely its upper end. The hanger 16 is preferably formed of a suitable sheet of material such as a body of sheet metal, and it is provided at the end opposite the tab, that is, at its lower end, with means whereby a han ing such as a curtain or drape may be readily connected to the hanger. In the case illustrated a hook receiving opening 32 is shown provided in the lower end portion of the shank 30 and in the manner common to devices of this kind this lower end portion of the shank is shown slightly offset in the direction of the body of the slide.

The tab 31 provided at the upper end of the shank and projecting upward therefrom is characterized by an inner portion X, an outer portion Y and an intermediate or neck portion Z. In accordance with the present invention the portions X and Y are preferably substantially flat and they are connected by means of the neck portion Z so that they are at right angles to each other, the inner portion X being parallel with, in fact in the plane of the shank 30, while the outer portion Y is at right angles to that plane and projects outwardly or away from the body 15. So far as the present invention is concerned the edge or periphery of the tab 31 at the outer or terminal end portion Y of the tab 16 may be shaped or fashioned in various manners, as for example, it may be convergent at 80 and then rounded at 81, as shown in Fig. 4. In another form of the invention, the tab 31' of a hanger 16' having inner. outer and middle portions X, Y and Z' may have a flat end 82 with the corners 83 trimmed, as shown in Fig. 5. In still another form of the invention, the tab 31 of a hanger 16, having inner, outer and middle portions X", Y and Z" may be fully rounded, as shown at 85 in Fig. 6.

The coupling 17 provided by the present invention connects or couples the tab 31 of hanger 16 with the body 15, so that the tab is maintained adjacent the front face 21 of the body. The coupling 17 is preferablym the form of a pin 35 carried by the body with a portion projecting from the front face 21 of the body and engaged through an opening 36 provided in the tab 31 of the hanger. The pin 35 is carried by or extends through an opening 37 provided in the body and in the case illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 8 the pin carrying opening 37 is at the bottom or continues from a large cavity or recess 39 provided in the body from the back face thereof. A head 40 is provided on the pin 35 at the inner end of the pin and in the case just referred to the head 40 occurs in the cavity 39.

The opening 36 provided in the tip 31 to accommodate the forwardly projecting portion of the pm 35 IS in the form of a slot extending from the end portion X of the tab through the curved neck portion Z and into the end portion Y. The opening 36, being in the form of a slot, is preferably of uniform width from one end to the other and is of such width as to slidably receive or accommodate the pin 35. A head 40 is provided on the outer or terminal end of the pin 35 and serves to retain the tab portion of the hanger on the pin with that portion of the hanger held adjacent or in the immediate vicinity of the front face 21 of body 15. In accordance with the present invention the head 40 is spaced away from the front face 21 of the body so the tab is held with some clearance or play making possible a turning of the tab between the position shown in Fig. 2 and that shown in Fig. 3, in the course of which operation it moves through a position such as is shown in Fig. 8. It will be apparent from the drawings that when the hanger is in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the body of the hanger may be carried by a track mounted on a vertical support while at the same time the hanger depends or is vertically disposed. In another situation the track may be on a horizontal support and arranged to face downwardly, in which case the hanger is positioned to depend or be vertically disposed, as shown in Fig. 3.

In accordance with the present invention the slot-like opening 36, provided in the hanger, may be enlarged, as at The opening at 50 is preferably such as to pass the head 40 occurring on pin 35, and this opening is preferably located where the end portion X of the tab joins the shank, or it may be located in the shank proper so that it does not interfere with free and safe operation of the shank between the positions shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 7 the body 15 is slightly different in form than that shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 8, in that the opening 37 provided in the body to carry the pin 37 is located in the rear or back portion of the body, the cavity 39 being formed in the body from its front or forward portion. In this form of the invention as in the form first described, and in each embodiment of the invention, it is preferred that the pin that is carried by the body to hold the hanger be carried with suitable play or looseness so that it can move or shift somewhat relative to the body, making impossible a binding or jamming of parts such as might otherwise occur.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 9 the body 15 is in a form employing sheet metal in its construction. In this case a single body of sheet metal is bent into the desired form and is such as to provide sides with rail receiving grooves 23 a back face 20*, a front face 21*", and a cavity 39 entering it from the back face. In other respects the body can be substantially as hereinabove described and serves to carry the coupling 17 which retains the hanger 16.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the present invention provides a slide that can be carried by an ordinary or conventional rail and which will effectively handle or carry a hanging such as a curtain or drape, and the construction as provided by the present invention is essentially simple, both in construction and operation. The slide construction involves but three parts, namely, the body, the hanger, and the coupler connecting these parts. With the construction provided by the invention equipment is provided which will accommodate various mountings of tracks and it is no longer necessary, as has been true in the past, to provide two different types of slides to accommodate different mountings, as above described. With the construction provided by the present invention the body of the slide can be carried by a track mounted as shown in Fig. 2 or as shown in Fig. 3, and by simple manipulation the hanger can in either case be made to depend, so as to carry the hanging that is to be handled by the equipment. It is to be understood that with the construction provided the hanger is, in effect pivotally supported by the coupling or connection 17 so that it can be turned or swung to various positions, and the mechanism as a Whole incorporates a freedom or looseness of parts which makes for simple, dependable, carefree operation.

Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skilled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A slide adapted to be carried by a track and including, a body with a front, a back and sides, there being track engaging parts at the sides of the body, a hanger.

with an elongate shank and a tab on the shank fixed relative thereto and located adjacent the front of the body, the tab having portions of its extent lying in planes which are at substantially right angles to each other, and a coupling member carried by and projecting from the body and slidably holding the tab for selective positioning with one or the other of said portions thereof adjacent the body.

2. A slide adapted to be carried by a track and including, a body with a front, a back and sides, there being track engaging parts at the sides of the body, a rigid hanger with an elongate shank and an elongate tab on the shank at one end thereof having end portions lying in planes which are at substantially right angles to each other, and a coupling pin carried by and projecting from the body and slidably engaged with and holding the tab for movement of the tab relative to the pin lengthwise of the tab for selectively locating one or the other of said end portions of the tab at the pin whereby the hanger is shiftable relative to the body between two operating positions that are substantially 90 apart.

3. A slide adapted to be carried by a track and including, a body with a front, a back and sides, there being track receiving grooves at the sides of the body, an elongate hanger with an elongate shank and a longitudinally slotted tab on the shank at one end of the hanger, said tab having end portions lying in planes which are at substantially right angles to each other, and a coupling member carried by the body and projecting from the front thereof and slidably engaged in the slot of the tab connecting the body and tab for selective positioning of one or the other of said end portions of the tab adjacent the front of the body and substantially flush therewith.

4. A slide adapted to be carried by a track and including, a body with a front, a back and sides, there being track receiving grooves at the sides of the body, an elongate hanger with an elongate shank and a longitudinally slotted tab on the shank at one end of the hanger, said tab having end portions lying in planes which are at substantially right angles to each other, and a coupling member carried by the body and projecting from the front thereof and slidably engaged in the slot of the tab connecting the body and tab for selective positioning of one or the other of said end portions of the tab adjacent the front of the body and substantially flush therewith, the coupling member having a head thereon engaging the tab and holding it engaged with said member.

5. A slide adapted to be carried by a track and including, a body with a front, a back and sides, there being track receiving grooves at the sides of the body, an elongate hanger with an elongate shank and a longitudinally slotted tab on the shank at one end of the hanger, said tab having end portions lying in planes which are at substantially right anges to each other, and a coupling member carried by the body and projecting from the front thereof and slidably engaged in the slot of the tab connecting the body and tab for selective positioning of one or the other of said end portions of the tab adjacent the front of the body and substantially flush therewith, one of said end portions of the tab being substantially parallel with the shank and the other of said end portions of the tab being at the end of the first mentioned portion remote fiomk the shank and being substantially normal to the s an 6. A slide adapted to be carried by a track and including, a body with a front, a back and sides, there being track receiving grooves at the sides of the body, an elongate hanger with an elongate shank and a longitudinally slotted tab on the shank at one end of the hanger, said tab having end portions lying in planes which are at substantially right angles to each other, and a coupling member carried by the body and projecting from the front thereof and slidably engaged in the slot of the tab connecting the body and tab for selective positioning of one or the other of said end portions of the tab adjacent the front of the body and substantially flush therewith, the body having an opening carrying the coupling member for limited movement thereof bodily relative to the body. 7. A slide adapted to be carried by a track and includmg, a body with a front, a back and sides, there being track receiving grooves at the sides of the body, an elongate hanger with an elongate shank and a longitudinally slotted tab on the shank at one end of the hanger, said tab having end portions lying in planes which are at substantially right angles to each other, and a coupling mem ber carried by the body and projecting from the front thereof and slidably engaged in the slot of the tab connecting the body and tab for selective positioning of one or the other of said end portions of the tab adjacent the front of the body and substantially flush therewith, the coupling member having a head thereon engaging the tab and holding it engaged with said member, and the slot in the tab having an enlarged portion adapted to pass the head when the tab is in other than one of said selective positions.

8. A slide adapted to be carried by a track and including, a body with a front, a back and sides, there being track receiving grooves at the sides of the body, an elongate hanger with an elongate shank and a longitudinally slotted tab on the shank at one end of the hanger, said tab having end portions lying in planes which are at substantially right angles to each other and a curved neck portion extending between and connecting said end portions, and a coupling member carried by the body and projecting from the front thereof and slidably engaged in the slot of the tab connecting the body and tab for selective positioning of one or the other of said end portions of the tab adjacent the front of the body and substantially flush therewith.

9. A slide adapted to be carried by a track and including, a body with a front, a back and sides, there being track receiving grooves at the sides of the body, an elongate hanger with an elongate shank and a longitudinally slotted tab on the shank at one end of the hanger, said tab having fiat end portions lying in planes which are at substantially right angles to each other and a curved neck portion extending between and connecting said end portions, and a coupling member carried by the body and projecting from the front thereof and slidably engaged in the slot of the tab connecting the body and tab for selective positioning of one or the other of said end portions of the tab adjacent the front of the body and substantially flush therewith, the coupling member having a head thereon engaging the tab and holding it engaged with said member.

10. A slide adapted to be carried by a track and including, a body with a front, a back and sides, there being track receiving grooves at the sides of the body, an elongate hanger with an elongate shank and a longitudinally slotted tab on the shank at one end of the hanger, said tab having flat end portions lying in planes which are at substantially right angles to each other and a curved neck portion extending between and connecting said end portions, and a coupling member carried by the body and projecting from the front thereof and slidably engaged in the slot of the tab connecting the body and tab for selective positioning of one or the other of said end portions of the tab adjacent the front of the body and substantially flush therewith, the coupling member having a head thereon engaging the tab and holding it engaged with said member, the slot in the tab having an enlarged portion at one end thereof adapted to pass the head when the tab is in other than one of said selective postions.

11. A slide adapted to be carried by a track and including, a body with a front, a back and sides, there being track receiving grooves at the sides of the body, an elongate hanger with an elongate shank and a longitudinally slotted tab on the shank at one end of the hanger, said tab having end portions lying in planes which are at sub stantially right angles to each other, and a coupling member carried by the body and projecting from the front thereof and slidably engaged in the slot of the tab connecting the body and tab for selective positioning of one or the other of said end portions of the tab adjacent the front of the body and substantially flush therewith, the coupling member having a head thereon engaging the tab and holding it engaged with said member, the slot in the tab being extended to the shank and there having an enlarged portion adapted to pass the head.

12. A slide adapted to be carried by a track and including, a body with a front, a back and sides, there being track receiving grooves at the sides of the body, an elongate hanger with an elongate shank and a longitudinally slotted tab on the shank at one end of the hanger, said tab having end portions lying in planes which are at substantially right angles to each other, and a coupling member carried by the body and projecting from the front thereof and slidably engaged in the slot of the tab connecting the body and tab for selective positioning of one or the other of said end portions of the tab adjacent the front of the body and substantially flush therewith, the slot in the tab being of uniform width from one end to the other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,942,712. Kirsch Jan. 9, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS 588,340 Great Britain May 20, 1947 OTHER REFERENCES Page 192 of Plastics Bulletin, volume 12, 1950, pub lished by E. I. du Pont Nemours & Co., Polychemicals Department, Wilmington, Del. 

